TV Jots

There were many highlights on “Excalibur,” not the least of which was the front-and-center role played by Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy in the final legal portion of the episode. Following his promotion to District Attorney after the departure of his former superior, McCoy has been pretty much languishing in the background, providing direction and advice as needed to his underlings. That was no more on the 18th-season finale.

Tom Everett Scott starred to chilling effect as the Governor of New York, simultaneously McCoy’s boss and his increasingly more threatening archenemy. It was that unexpected antagonistic relationship that creates the promise of more intense drama during the 19th season if Scott should return to resume his role as Donald Shalvoy. I pray he does.

Of course, the episode’s hooker plotline came directly from the real-life high-priced hooker scandal that forced New York’s former governor Eliot Spitzer to step down from office just a couple of months ago.

The Law & Order camp put more than a few spins on the sordid tale, one of the best involving the more dominant, steadfast influence of the fictional governor’s wife, Rita. This woman, played impeccably by Alison Elliott, doled out the creeps big time. That such manipulative yet powerful people could be in charge of New York made the willies even worse.

There’s no doubt, at least in my mind — “Excalibur” should go down in Law & Order’s history as one of the historic series’ most memorable shining moments … after all these years. Please, Wolf & Company, don’t change a thing about the cast over the summer. The mothership is now in excellent working order.

The Verdict: A

Tags: Excalibur, Law & Order, NBC, Sam Waterston, television, Tom Everett Scott, tv